Motorsport: Keohane on the second row in Knockhill
Michael Keohane, racing with the Irish owned Meritus racing team, is the top Irish driver in the first of the double-header Scholarship qualifying sessions at a sunny Knockhill in Scotland, venue for the tenth round of the British F3 series.
Brazilian ace, Ernani Judice (Parker F3) set the fastest time over the 1.3-mile circuit near Dunfermline.
His time of 47.969 was 0.251 faster than Scholarship leader, Robbie Kerr, whose team mate, Robert Doornbos, snatched third close to the end of the 20minute session.
Keohane, who lies third in the championship behind Kerr and Northern Ireland’s Matthew Gilmore, dominated the first 13 minutes.
His Weathermaster/Clonakilty Black Pudding/irishmobiles.com car consistently lapped the circuit under 48.400 seconds.
His best time was 48.392S. - with little over half a second covering the top six, tomorrow’s first of two 26-lap races is set to be very exciting.
Mathew Gilmore and Mark Mayall are on the third row.
The second qualifier – for tomorrow’s second race is scheduled for 2. 15 p.m. this afternoon.
Meanwhile, in the A Class, Andy Priaulx claimed pole from Japanese star and BAR test driver, Takuma Sato.
Northern Ireland’s, Derek Hayes will start the race from the fourth row.
The second A Class qualifier is at 1. 45 p.m.
Knockhill, Scholarship Qualifiers:
1. Ernani Judice 47.969S.
2. Robbie Kerr 48.220S.
3. Robert Doornbos 48.365
4. Michael Keohane 48.392S.
5. Matthew Gilmore 48.474S.
6. Mark Mayall 48.532S.
Irish racers, Adam Carroll, James Murphy, Emmet O’Brien, Tony Rogers and Gary Turkington race in the Slick 50 Formula Ford Zetec Championship.
Qualifying takes place today at 12. 20 p.m.
Irish interest in the Ford Fiesta Zetec-S Championship involves Colin Turkington and Eoin Murray.
